title: Integrated Risk Index of Chemical Aquatic Pollution (IRICAP): case studies in Iberian rivers.
abstract: The hazard of chemical compounds can be prioritized according to their PBT (persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity) properties by using Self-Organizing Maps (SOM). The objective of the present study was to develop an Integrated Risk Index of Chemical Aquatic Pollution (IRICAP), useful to evaluate the risk associated to the exposure of chemical mixtures contained in river waters. Four Spanish river basins were considered as case-studies: Llobregat, Ebro, Jucar and Guadalquivir. A SOM-based hazard index (HI) was estimated for 205 organic compounds. IRICAP was calculated as the product of the HI by the concentration of each pollutant, and the results of all substances were aggregated. Finally, Pareto distribution was applied to the ranked lists of compounds in each site to prioritize those chemicals with the most significant incidence on the IRICAP. According to the HI outcomes, perfluoroalkyl substances, as well as specific illicit drugs and UV filters, were among the most hazardous compounds. Xylazine was identified as one of the chemicals with the highest contribution to the total IRICAP value in the different river basins, together with other pharmaceutical products such as loratadine and azaperol. These organic compounds should be proposed as target chemicals in the implementation of monitoring programs by regulatory organizations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fàbrega
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marquès
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ginebreda
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzmanovic
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuhmacher
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.forename: Martí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadal
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004232:Diuretics / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers; D013030:Spain; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010575:Pesticides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Aquatic pollution; Chemical mixtures; Risk index; Self-Organizing Maps (SOM); Spanish river basin